OBA to Barcode Ready

[GoonerGary]

So I have a nice smooth system going on with OBA; now they are changing everything to barcode ready.

So does it mean that the OBA website will no longer be used and it will be DMO instead?

Can you print the barcode only? Or do you have to manually enter all your customer addresses into this new system and ditch all my pre-printed PPI labels?

[UK Printed Mugs]

Hi Gary. This is a very good question and when we sat down with our PPI regional manager a few months ago she said that everyone is complaining about this big change of process. Especially the fact that you are now in essence providing address details of all recipients in digital format so i presume would be used for marketing purposes as well. Our sister company provides large scale ecommerce solutions to retailers and they are non the wiser. I am sorry if this post does not answer your question but we intend to also get the bottom of it very soon so first one to post back. Kind regards, Olly. On vacation in Florida

[Ucase Ltd]

I called about this too because I was given the impression it was mandatory.

But when I spoke to them on the phone I was told it wasn't. They also said they wouldn't even advise it as my overseas volumes are very small (not too sure what that has to do with it but I've taken them at their word and done nothing).

[pisquee]

We like the concept in general the the packages could get through the network quicker and have tracking as standard, but it's going to be a pain to have to type all the addresses into the computer, rather than quickly handwrite them on our preprinted PPI address labels. It's fine for repeat customers as their addresses will be in the address book, but for one-off retail orders it's going to slow the process down.

[JMugs]

Like wise confused. I had a letter a few months back saying that by the beginning of this month I had to have made the switch. Every day I filled in the "contact me" on the RM OBA page, nobody did contact me! Eventually I phoned them only to discover that I don't need to do it, there now isn't a deadline, they aren't sure when it will happen etc.

So non the wiser.

Janners

[GoonerGary]

By Spring they wanted everybody to switch over to Despatch Manager Online and use the barcode labels. The price will increase if you don't. I wouldn't get too excited about it being tracked. Postmen won't scan it at the door so no use for Paypal protection. All you will get is an 'out for delivery' confirmation just as Parcelforce use. You can't lie about your despatch date either when you get busy!